Calallen secures playoff spot

Thursday

The H.M. King Brahmas are barley hanging for a potential spot in the playoffs after getting shut out by the Calallen Wildcats, 8-0 Friday night.

"We're very happy with how we have been doing," said Calallen head coach Steve Chapman. "We are shooting to go 10-0 in district and that is our primary goal for now."

The win assured Calallen at least a share of the District 31- 4A title.

Junior starting pitcher Jordan John pitched his second consecutive one-hit game, but was more impressive this time around than the week before against the Robstown Cottonpickers.

"I thought he did an excellent job," Chapman said. "He kept getting hitters to swing ahead of the ball and he had one of his better games."

John pitched five shutout innings with 13 strikeouts and no walks.

The same could not be said for H.M. King starter Derick Hale.

Hale gave up six runs on five hits and walked four batters in three innings of work.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the second inning, Wildcat designated hitter Roland Resendez knocked what looked to be a home run, but the ball hit the left field wall for a double.

After Hale threw a wild pitch to move Resendez to third, shortstop Dustin Vaughan was at the plate with two outs.

Vaughan hit the ball toward third base, but H.M. King third baseman Randy Vega overthrew first baseman James Espinosa.

Resendez scored while Vaughan made it to second base safely.

Right fielder Aaron Alaniz was up next and hit an RBI-double. Vaughan ran as fast as he could to home plate and scored after catcher Sergio Cisneros dropped the ball after catching it. Cisneros wasted no time picking up the ball and threw Alaniz out as he headed to third base.

The Wildcats had an early 2-0 lead.

The bottom of the third inning was even more rough for Hale.

Hale began the inning with a lead-off single to Calallen second baseman Derek Hagy.

Hagy went on to steal second base, his 24th of the season. It was the first of three stolen bases for the Wildcats in that inning alone. The other two were credited to left fielder Kris Guerrero

With Calallen up 3-0 and two outs, Resendez was up to bat with runners at the corners. Hale threw four straight balls to load the bases.

Hale would walk his next two batters and bring in two more runs for the Wildcats.

With the bases still loaded, Alaniz had his second at bat of the night as Hale threw his second wild pitch of the game. Resendez moved from third to home as Calallen had a commanding 6-0 lead.

The Wildcats were up 7-0 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning with Verrett at bat with a chance to put Calallen up by 10 runs and potentially win on the mercy rule after five innings.

With two outs, H.M. King third baseman Vega came in to relieve Hale and struck Verrett out looking, although Calallen was still up big.

With one game left after facing Alice on Tuesday, Chapman is aware that there still is room for improvement.

"We need to concentrate on all aspects of the game," Chapman said. "I don't think any team is ever perfect."

The Wildcats close out the regular season Friday night as they host the Flour Bluff Hornets. The Hornets were tied with the Robstown Cottonpickers after last week's games with a 3-5 record for that all-important third slot to make the playoffs.